Water control for sprinklers



R. w. sEYMs WATER CONTROL FOR SPRINKLERS Filed Sept. 1923 Fjgl Event or.

Lilarnqye,

Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES ROBERT W. SEYMS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

YVATER CONTROL FOR SPRINKLERS.

Application filed September 11, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. SEYMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ater Controls for Sprinklers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention comprises an automatic water control for use in connection with the sprinkling of lawns, gardens, or ground surfaces generally.

In the use of water for the sprinkling of lawns it is only required or necessary that the sprinkler employed for such purpose permit the outflow of water therefrom for a given period of time for the ground area within the limit of the water zone of discharge from the sprinkler and acontinuation of the water discharged from the sprinkler over a given time or sprinkling period is water permitted to run to waste and is therefore not only a loss of water but a needless expense to the consumer thereof. For instance, a gardener usually places the sprinkler in operation for the watering of I a given area of a lawn and then leaves the water running while he attends to other duties in connection with the garden, paying no further attention to the sprinkler until he comes to notice the water running to waste or has finished his other work in hand or believes the sprinkler has run sufli ciently long in its fixed position, when he shifts the sprinkler to another position or portion of the lawn to be watered. This haphazard or inefficient manner of carrying out the operation of lawn sprinkling is the occasion of a large waste of water, which, in sections of the country where the water charge is based on cubic feet measurement, is a serious item of expense to the consumer and equally so, such waste of water is quite a problem to a water company operating in such communities as have a scarcity of rainfall. Practical operation in the use of lawn sprinklers has demonstrated that a given ground area of a lawn or garden to be sprinkled does not require for watering purposes a flow of water thereon from a sprinkler system of a period in excess of approximately fifteen minutes in order to properly saturate or wet the ground area,

so that a timed flow of water maintained in excess of said period is water permitted to run to vwaste and is a loss thereof.

Serial No. 662,153.

The object of the present invention is to provide against the flow of water from a lawn sprinkler or sprinkler system after the issuance of water therefrom for a predetermined period of time, which object is attained by installing or placing in association with the water supply for the sprinkler or sprinkler system of means for automatically cutting off the water flow after the sprinkler has maintained its discharge of water under a head pressure for a predetermined period of time.

In order to comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the automatic controlling means for the water applied to an ordinary garden faucet, illustrating a portion of a garden hose applied to the said means.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the irregular line 2-2, Fig. 1 of the drawings and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to indicate a body structure provided interiorly with a control water passageway 2, said body structure having applied to one of its end extremities a coupling ring 3 for the attachment thereof to the threaded nipple 4 of an ordinary garden faucet 5. The opposite extremity 6 of the body structure 1 is externally threaded in order to receive the coupling 7 of an ordinary garden hose 8, to the free or outer end of which is applied a water sprinkler, not shown. lVithin the water passageway 2 of the body structure 1 is provided a port 9 adapted to be controlled, in the present case, by a pressure actuated horizontally movable valve 10, the stem 11 of which extends through a stuffing gland 12 and partitioning wall 12 into a pressure chamber 13 formed by a laterally extended casting 1 1 secured in any suitable manner to the body structure 1. To the outer end of the stem 13 is attached a piston head 15, adapted to be acted upon by water under pressure admitted into the pressure chamber 13 back of the piston head 15.

Vater under pressure during the operation of the apparatus gains access into the pressure chamber 13 back of the piston 15 through a restricted valve control port 16, which establishes communication between the said pressure chamber 13 and a water chamber 17, the outflow of water under 1 his U9 th 'fre 6fi l u t d or. re vertical sliding movement a float 27 whzch Communication is establishedbetween' the upper portion of the Water passage-2 and the 'Water chamber 17 through the medium of the transversely disposed 'ipasgage-w'a 21 formedthrbugh" the body structure 1 and thecasting 14ml Wll'illtllfi passage-way 21 jcommuni'cates a vertically extended port 22 formed within the casting 14 and Within vvhichpassa'gewa'y' is fitted a ported'ro'tat- "ablevalve 23 ivhich is oper'atable from the Loutside of the structure by means of the handle 24. I

'To' the cast ng 14 there is secured 'in any suitable manner a vertically eXten ded shell or cylinder'25 jivhich is closed byi'a cover plate 25'fandivhich shell or 'cylinder pro vides a Waterliolding reservoir26 and with \vhieh reservoir the valve controlled passageway 22 communicates. Through the shell or: cylinder iscentrally extended a vertical tie rod 26, Which at its lower end screws intothe casting 14 and serves tohold the shell 01'foas ing 25 "tight to the-said eastis raised Within thechamber 26 chef pressure of the Water admitted therein through thelpassage 22 the saidfioat risingj W-ithin the chamber or reservoir as the Water admittedith'erein"iinder' pressure through the passageway 22; bears against the under face thereof. There-is interposed within the chamber or reservoir 26 between the float the bottom of reservoir; apivotally mounted lever and which daring the I downwardniovement of the float 27 Within the ifeservoir-26, is throvvnor moved downivardly therewith. This lever acts to con- I trol then oveme-nt of arod 29 against the upper surface ofvvhich it be ars,said rod in turn at itslower end bearing upon the outer arm ot the fulermned lever 20 and which "rod 29wvith; the downward movement theref ot through the; action of the pivoted le'v'er28 throws upwardly the inner arm of the fill crumed lever" 20 to operate the valve stem t unseatthe pilot valve 18 and open communieation between the chamber 17 and the prl'essure chamber 13"for permitt ng Water under, pressure flowing through the'pas-. sageway-2l to move into the pressure chambef'lS'to act against the piston head 1.5 for (50 forcing inwardly-the v alve lO' to gradually "close theflport 9 and by so doing arie'st the p vater through the passageway 2 to thelavvn sprinkler-throughthe hose connection 8.

The cylinder, shell or 'c'ontainer 25"is' of asizeadapted to hold a'i 'gifven "q-i1a1itity of Wate1,"sayfor 1"1'istanee,"a pint more or less and from the passageway 22 above the rotatable valve 23 there is extended a leak opening or passageway 30, the flow of Wa- "ter threthrough being regulated or controlled by an adjustable valve 31, Fig. 2 of the drawings. 'Theleak opening 30 is al- Ways an open one, but the flow or eseape of Water therethrough 'fromthe' passageway 22 "is regulated and c'ontrolled' throiig1i'the nie- 'fdium of the valve 31. "The area of thesai'd "leak opening 30 is' s'ueh "thatth'rotigh"the association therewith of the regulatin valve 3'1, it Willtake ap' rokn ately fifteen minutes for the "Water contained "Within" the shell, cylinder, or container '25'to"o utflovv therefrom.

When the attachment is applied to the garden faucet 'With the garden hose Sattached thereto and'the sprinkler'fixe'din position'onthe lavvn for operation, the first aet of the f gardener is to throw thehandle""24to shift the valve23to place its port'o'pen'i'ng "in registry in "whole for part W 11th the Water 1 passage-Way 22 and the valve of the faucet 5 isthroivn by "the handle to 'open": the

:faucet and permit the flow 'otwater therethrough under 'pre'ssu're"i11to 'the' passage- Way 2 ofthe' structure 1..

Aportion of the Water flovvi'ng und'e'r'pres- "s'ure through the passageway 2 isby assed through the passage-wa 21"to' the portor raising'fthe floattheirin iintil'the member :26 is' filled "withf'w'ater, the" air Within tlie chamber 26 e s'ea-ping' therefrom 1'durin'gtl 1e "upward r mov ment ofrhe float "26 through "the escape opening 26" formed in"the Wall "thereotadja'cent itsstop. It'only requires two "or three "s econdsfor the" ch'amber 26 to 23 is turnedto el'o ethesaid communication the Water by-passing' under pressure through "the "passage-Way 2lfvvillflow under pressure 'into the jeh'an'i'ber 17' and-move do vvn'yvard'ly the pilot; valve 18, eau'sing its 'st'enftdthrolw fdownwardly the inner arm of th ful rumed lever and raise itsoiiter to lift the stem ae a'nd, r'aii'se' the pivotal lever 2 8. The valve 18 is thus maintained seatedfvvhile 'the' fpiv'otal lever 28 is 'fr'ee'of the Weight of ljthe'fio'at'27, 'Asthe watergratlu'ally escapes from the chamber 26 through?the-minute 'vzilveconfirolld leakfpas'sage thdfloat 27 \'vill move dO'vVnWardlyWith the decreasing level-or the Wate'rvvithin the chan'rb'er26'funtil it"be'ars against the ttr'ee "end 'offthej-piv- 'oted lever 28"yvhen the"weight of thefioat durin its 1 lowerin *m vem nt While in contact" ivi'tlr'the l'ev'er- 28 Will swingdovv'nwardly said lever, moving therewith the rod 29 and swinging the fulcrumed lever 20 to throw upwardly its inner arm to raise or unseat the pilot valve 18 which when unseated establishes as before stated, communication between the chamber 17 and the pressure chamber 13 for permitting water flowing under pressure through the passageway 2 to by-pass through the passageway 21 into the pressure chamber 13 and back of the piston head 15 for gradually forcing inwardly the said piston head 15 and by the movement thereof causing the valve 10 to close the port 9, thus cutting off the flow of water through the passageway 2 to the sprinkler. With the water flow thus cut off the operation of the sprinkler ceases and the stoppage of water discharging therefrom gives notice to the gardener that such portion of the lawn has received its proper watering and the same should be moved to another position. l/Vhen so moved it is required that the gardener throw the handle 24 to place the port of the valve 23 to open communication between the passageways 21 and 22 and the interior of the shell or cylinder 25, thus permitting water to enter therein for the raising of the float 27. On the chamber 26 becoming filled with water, the handle 24 of the valve 23 is thrown to close communication between the passageways 21 and 22, when the operation just described repeats itself. At this time the pilot valve 18 is unseated and the pressure of the water going through the passage-way 2 acts to unseat the valve 10 to open the port 9.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the valve 10 is operated to close the port 9 after the sprinkler has been in operation for a given length of time, or until such time as the chamber 26 has emptied itself of water, thereby preventing the waste of water which usually takes place in connection with the watering of a lawn through a sprinkler or sprinkling system. The apparatus is positive in its action and automatic throughout. lVhile the apparatus has been described and illustrated in its preferred embodiment, it is obvious that changes may be made in the construction of the details of the working parts without de arting from the spirit of the invention anc which resides broadly in the providing of means for automatically controlling or cutting off the supply of water to a lawn sprinkler after the same has been in operation for a given period of time and I wish tobe understood as claiming this feature as broadly as the state of the art will warrant.

I claim:

1. An automatic water control means for interposition between a water faucet and the hose connection for a sprinkler, the same comprising a body structure provided with a ported water passage-way, a fluid pressure actuated valve adapted to control the opening and closing of the port within said water way, a water reservoir associated with the body structure provided with a leakage out let, a valve adapted to control the .tlow of water under pressure into the said reservoir, a. pilot valve adapted to control he movement of the pressure actuated valve, and means thrown into action by the outflow of water from within the water reservoir for permitting an unseating of the pilot valve to produce a closing pressure relative to the pressure actuated valve.

2. An automatic water control means for incorporation within a sprinkler system for lawns, the same comprising a body struc ture provided with a ported passage-way for the flow therethrough of water under pressure, a pressure actuated valve adapted to open and close the port of said passage-way, means operated by a portion of the water under pressure for automatically admitting water under pressure to act on said valve to close the mentioned port and maintain a closing pressure against the same after water under pressure has flowed through the said passage-way for a pre-determined period of time. and means for varying the time of flow of water through the passage.

3. In combination with the water supply means of a sprinkler system, of a body structure adapted to be interposed within said means and provided with a ported passageway for the flow therethrough of water under pressure, a fluid pressure actuated valve adapted to close the port of said passage-way, a reservoir provided with a leak opening associated with the body structure and adapted to receive from the water supply of the system a given quantity of water, and means thrown into action on a filling of the reservoir for cutting off pressure to the said valve to permit an opening of the mentioned port and for admitting an actuating fluid pressure to shift the valve to close the port on an emptying of the said reservoir.

4. In combination with the water supply means for a sprinkler system. of automatic means for cutting 01f the flow of water theret-hrough at predetermined moments for incorporation therein, the same comprising a body structure provide-cl with a ported water passa e-way, a fluid pressure actuated valve adapted to open and close said port, a pilot valve for controlling the movement of said pressure actuated valve. a water holding reservoir provided with a leak outlet associated with the body structure and adapted to receive therein water under pressure from said structure, and device thrown into action during the filling and emptying period of said reservoir for permitting a closing and an opening movement respectively of the pilot valve.

5. The combination with the water supill) ply means; of 2a sprinklersystem; valve interposed 'withln said means-for controlling the 'flO'W of Water therethrough,,means wtor automatically actuating said valve to cut oil the flow of water under pressure therethrough and'for maintaining a water pressure against said valve for retaining the same seated, and means for releasing :the

seating pressure from said valvev to permit the water pressure through said -'means to unseat the valve.

6. In combinationwith-a fluid suozply pipe, .a fluid distrihutingpipe, a fluid controlling means located between the twoaand including a valve directly acted on bythe :fluid pressure and operatedithereby in itsopening and closing movements means torre- --leasing fluid pressure in rear ofthe-valve to permit the pressure in front thereof to'open the same, a fluid actuated timing apparatus, a valve, and a trip Withiirthe #patlrof the timing apparatus and connected "with the valve for admitting fluid pressure-inrrear "of said valvefor the closing thereof.

7. An automatically operated cutoff :de-

vice for incorporationvvithina Water sup-- ply sprinkler system, the same comprising uni-den ressure within saidjrreceptacle a pilot valve tor controlling the ia'dmission ofcfi uiid 1 underitpressure 'Withmwthe pressure chamber to actuate-the piston therein for, shlfttng the valve: carried thereby to close 1 its port, ran d r-associated devices: thrown :into action gduring ethe emptying movement *ofthemvater :hel'd- .ing receptacle to actuate the: pilot valvegfor admitting fluid pressure into a the 2:19-B6SSL1'I'8 chamber to J operate: the piston '1. therein for moving the .valve icarrie'd itherebyzzto 001086 I the port of vater passage-Way. of then-body structure.

y In testimony. whereof; I have signed: my name to this -:s-pecification.

" JROBERT 

